Advanced Mode

Spybot operates in both Default and Advanced modes. The Advanced mode lets you access program settings and additional tools.

Step 1. To activate Spybot in Advanced mode, select the Mode > Advanced mode option from the menu bar as follows:

Figure 14: The Mode menu options

Step 2. Click the Yes button to confirm this mode.

In Advanced mode, the sidebar in the Spybot main screen appears with more options:

Figure 15: The Spybot Search & Destroy - Advanced mode screen

Step 1. Double-click Settings to view descriptions of various items and options in a display pane as follows:

Figure 16: The Settings screen

Step 2. Double-click Tools to view tools that will help you identify spyware not detected in normal scanning processes, and rescan your system.

Figure 17: The Tools screen

Step 3. Double-click Info & License to display general and licensing information about Spybot 1.5.2.

3.1 Advanced Mode Tools

Advanced users will appreciate the following advanced options provided by Spybot: IE tweaks, Shredder, System Internals and System Startup.

3.1.1 IE tweaks

The IE tweaks option is used for Internet Explorer configuration. It lets you set a couple of important Internet Explorer security settings, especially in situations where more than one person is using a system.

Figure 18: The IE tweaks screen

You should leave the first option checked, as shown in the example above.

3.1.2 Secure Shredder

This is an excellent option for permanently deleting (wiping) temporary Windows and Internet browser files. For more information about wiping and temporary files, please see Booklet Chapter 9, How to Destroy Sensitive Information.

Figure 19: The Secure Shredder screen

Step 1. Click the little black triangle next to the button, to activate a drop-down list of temporary file locations as follows:

Figure 20: The Temporary drop-down list in the Secure Shredder screen

Step 2. Select an option from the list to activate that program's temporary file list.

Figure 21: The Secure Shredder screen

Now you need to set the number of 'shreds' in the deletion process.

Step 3. Use the option at the bottom of the window to set a number (between 2 and 5).

Step 4. Click: once you have set the number of times this document will be shredded.

Spybot will permanently delete these unnecessary temporary files from your computer.

3.1.3 System Internals (Advanced Users Only!)

The System Internals tool will search for inconsistent and incorrectly named files within the Windows Registry. The Windows Registry is explained in the CCleaner guide section, 'The Windows Registry.

Figure 22: The System Internals screen

Step 1. Click: to begin searching for problems in the Windows Registry.

Step 2. After the scan is completed, click: to correct all problems found during the scan.

3.1.4 System Startup (Advanced Users Only!)

The System Startup tool displays in sequence all programs loaded by Windows upon starting up your computer. It lets you decide which are necessary and which are not essential.

Tip: Removing unnecessary items from this list means that Windows will start up faster.

Figure 23: The System Startup screen

Step 1. Click: to activate the information pane.

In this information pane, each highlighted item has its behaviour and function described. Read these descriptions carefully before you decide whether an item needs to be loaded when starting up Windows.